Adoption of Intercropping Practices by the Cotton Farmers in Mancherial District of Telangana State

Abstract

World food production shortages and estimates in the supplies of the future have promptly increased the interest in the adoption of improved crop production activities and increased the food production and helps to cope with the threats of climatic variations and food security. Intercropping is a method that efficiently uses the space and time of cultivation. In this concept of cotton-based intercropping with pulses, where cotton yields are more along with additional survivable returns to the farmers from other crops. Though the concept has beneficial effects, but the adoption of intercropping in cotton by the farmers is low due to lack of clarity about the concept of intercropping. The present study mainly focused on estimating and clarifying the decision of the farmers on the adoption and non-adoption of intercropping in cotton and the benefits of the intercropping practices by the cotton farmers in developing the conceptual framework. Logistic regression model was used to present an econometric analysis of the diffusion process. The results from the present study revealed that variables like farm size, education status and exposure to extension service and capital were statistically significant at 1% level and showing a positive influence on the adoption of intercropping in cotton. Whereas age, farming experience was statistically significant at 1% level and showing the negative influence on the adoption of intercropping in cotton and yield is the other variable showing the negative influence on the intercropping. Further, in the extension systems more stress is need upon the capacity building of the farmers for optimum harnessing of the benefits of new generation technologies in cotton cultivation.